Rope Safety Course

The skills needed to climb the walls where ropes are required for your safety.

Correctly fitting a harness, tying into the rope and controlling the safety rope (belaying) for the climber.

Also includes the use of the auto belays.

Once you have completed the course and our instructor is happy with your level of ability, you are more than welcome to stay and keep climbing. In fact we positively encourage it as it will help ingrain what we’ve just taught you and boost your confidence.

Includes lifetime membership and free equipment hire for your first month. Climb 4 times during your first month for a free gift!

NB. These rope skills are for the top rope (green) walls only. For lead climbing (purple wall) you will need to complete the 3 week Learn to Lead course in addition to this one

The aim is to brush up on your skills and/or meet other climbers to partner up with for future climbing sessions.

Although the session is free your usual entry fee applies.

NB. If our instructor feels your belay skills are insufficient which could place yourself and other climbers in danger whilst attending this session, it may be recommended that you book a rope safety course.

Parents

Learn how to belay for your kids

Climbing is a great sport for parents and children to enjoy together.

Being able to belay is an essential skill all climbers must learn to keep the climber safe. If you as a parent learn how to belay then you can bring the kids climbing whenever you want, without the need to book them onto a Fun Club or private session.

Our fun clubs are also limited to a minimum age of 5, but if you’re belaying your child yourself then there is no minimum age restriction.

Even if you don’t fancy climbing yourself you can still hold the ropes (belay) for your kids and encourage them up the wall.

In fact, if you’re just belaying your child and not climbing yourself, we won’t charge you entry.

If your kids are on one of our Climbing Clubs (NICAS) then it’s also a great way for them to get in some extra practice with you between the weekly sessions.

Rope Safety Course

£30001½ hours

Introduction to rope safety/belaying

Experience: None / A little / Boulderer

Fitness: Any

Confidence: Low / Medium / High

This course will cover:

The skills needed to climb the walls where ropes are required for your safety.

Correctly fitting a harness, tying into the rope and controlling the safety rope (belaying) for the climber.

Also includes the use of the auto belays.

Once you have completed the course and our instructor is happy with your level of ability, you are more than welcome to stay and keep climbing. In fact we positively encourage it as it will help ingrain what we’ve just taught you and boost your confidence.

Includes lifetime membership and free equipment hire for your first month. Climb 4 times during your first month for a free gift!

NB. These rope skills are for the top rope (green) walls only. For lead climbing (purple wall) you will need to complete the 3 week Learn to Lead course in addition to this one

Parents

Learn how to belay for your kids

Climbing is a great sport for parents and children to enjoy together.

Being able to belay is an essential skill all climbers must learn to keep the climber safe. If you as a parent learn how to belay then you can bring the kids climbing whenever you want, without the need to book them onto a Fun Club or private session.

Our fun clubs are also limited to a minimum age of 5, but if you’re belaying your child yourself then there is no minimum age restriction.

Even if you don’t fancy climbing yourself you can still hold the ropes (belay) for your kids and encourage them up the wall.

In fact, if you’re just belaying your child and not climbing yourself, we won’t charge you entry.

If your kids are on one of our Climbing Clubs (NICAS) then it’s also a great way for them to get in some extra practice with you between the weekly sessions.

Rope Safety Course

£30001 hr 30 mins

Introduction to rope safety/belaying

Experience: None / A little / Boulderer

Fitness: Any

Confidence: Low / Medium / High

This course will cover:

The skills needed to climb the walls where ropes are required for your safety.

Correctly fitting a harness, tying into the rope and controlling the safety rope (belaying) for the climber.

Also includes the use of the auto belays.

Once you have completed the course and our instructor is happy with your level of ability, you are more than welcome to stay and keep climbing. In fact we positively encourage it as it will help ingrain what we’ve just taught you and boost your confidence.

Includes lifetime membership and free equipment hire for your first month. Climb 4 times during your first month for a free gift!

NB. These rope skills are for the top rope (green) walls only. For lead climbing (purple wall) you will need to complete the 3 week Learn to Lead course in addition to this one

FAQ

All children aged 16 and under need to be supervised by an adult when at The Boardroom.

If you are an experienced climber then they can be supervised by yourself. If not then they will need to be supervised by one of our instructors.

It’s just not safe to let your children play on the wall without correct supervision as climbing can be a dangerous sport.

There are a few options available to you to get your kids climbing:

Book them onto a “Fun Session”. This is an hour long under the supervision and guidance of one of our fantastic instructors. This Fun Session is a great way to try the sport out and see if they enjoy it. Book yourself on too if you’d like to join in!

On weekend mornings (and in the afternoons on week days during school holidays) we run our Fun Clubs, “Caterpillars” for 5-7 yrs and “Funky Gibbons” for 7+.

If you’re sure your child will love climbing, or if they’ve tried climbing, enjoy it and want to progress in the sport then why not enrol them onto our Beginners Climbing Club, the first level of our Climbing Clubs.

These courses run in 6 week blocks during term time and are a great way to learn climbing or bouldering.

Our Climbing Clubs deliver the NICAS (National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme) or NIBAS (National Indoor Bouldering Award Scheme), for which we are one of the countries primary centres. These awards also counts towards GCSE and D of E!

As a parent if you do either our “Bouldering Safety & Techniques” or “Introduction to Rope Safety” course then you will be able to bring your child climbing by yourself.

With the safety knowledge and skills learnt you will not require one of our instructors to instruct your child. It also gets you involved in your child’s sport, and you never know you might enjoy climbing yourself!

Although you can start bouldering on you’re own with no supervision (see the “Just Boulder” offering on our Getting Started page) we highly recommend booking yourself onto our “Bouldering Safety & Techniques” course.

This course will cover all you need to know to get you bouldering safely as well as teaching you how to use the auto belays and a psicobloc induction if you’re up for it. We’ll also pass on some handy climbing techniques and top tips.

Bouldering is also a great way to meet other climbers to climb with.

To help improve your technique we run free coaching classes on the bouldering wall every Thursday evening (mixed) and Monday evenings (women only).

The Psicobloc (pronounced; see-koh-block) at The Boardroom is just a very high boulder, 8 meters high to be precise and very steep/overhanging with extra deep matting below it to take your fall!

The word Psicobloc is Spanish and its direct translation is “crazy boulder”. It’s also another name for DWS (Deep Water Soloing) which involves climbing rock faces above water, usually sea cliffs, free solo without a harnesses or ropes and using the water to break your fall!

We thought it was a pretty apt name for our solo wall as it is a pretty crazy boulder. So far it’s the only indoor one in Europe and only a handful in the world!

An auto belay is an automatic belay device that eliminates the need for a human belayer. The auto belay is attached to the top of the wall taking up the slack as a climber ascends and controls the descent when the climber reaches the top or in the event of a fall.

Top roping is without doubt the safest and easiest to learn of the two methods used in indoor climbing where a rope is required for safety (the other being “lead climbing”).

While top roping indoors (here at The Boardroom the top rope walls are the green wall) the rope which is always in place, runs smoothly through an anchor* at the top of the wall, with both ends of the rope reaching down to the floor. The climber ties into one end and the belayer attaches to the other.

As the climber ascends the wall the belayer takes in the rope ensuring there is no slack rope between themselves, the anchor and the climber. Should the climber fall off, the belayer prevents the climber from dropping by locking the rope in the belay device.

Because the rope passes through the anchor at the top of the wall, the climber is supported by the rope from above, despite the belayer being on the ground. This is why it is called “top roping”; the rope is always at the top, above the climber. This ensures that any fall a climber takes results in them falling no distance at all.

* In indoor climbing the anchor at the top of the wall consists of two karabiners attached to the wall structure via steel chains and bolts. The rope runs through the karabiners.

Indoor climbing wall anchors are weight tested on site to ensure they can hold 800kg

Before the climber starts climbing they must attach the rope to their harness. This is often referred to as “tying in”. In most indoor climbing centres this must be done using the popular and well recognised climbing knot, the figure of eight.

Despite it being a fairly easy knot to learn and get right, as with belaying it is paramount this is done correctly and attached the correct part of the harness. The consequences of getting this wrong could lead to serious injury or even death.

This is one of three skills (correctly putting on a harness, belaying and tying in) we teach on our “Introduction to Rope Safety/Belaying” course. Most people can master these skills during this course. If not then we will offer extra tuition free of charge until they are able to.

Belaying is the climbing term for controlling the (safety) rope whilst the climber climbs.

Climbers will more often than not, take it turns as a pair. One of them climbing whilst the other belays. Then they swap. So belaying is an essential skill all climbers must learn, and learn correctly.

When belaying the rope passes through a belay device and this device is clipped into the belayers harness. Correct use of the belay device is essential and of utmost importance as the climbers life rests in the belayers hands should they fall!

Having said that, it is a fairly basic skill and one of three (correctly putting on a harness, belaying and tying in) we teach on our “Introduction to Rope Safety/Belaying” course. Most people can master these skills during this course. If not then we will offer extra tuition free of charge until they can.

Indoor climbing is a form of rock climbing carried out indoors on artificial structures which attempt to mimic the experience of climbing outside.

Originally used by climbers as a way to train for climbing during the wet winter months, indoor climbing has now become a sport in its own right with many new climbers using it as a sociable and enjoyable alternative to working out in the gym!

Rope Safety Course

The skills needed to climb the walls where ropes are required for your safety.

Correctly fitting a harness, tying into the rope and controlling the safety rope (belaying) for the climber.

Also includes the use of the auto belays.

Once you have completed the course and our instructor is happy with your level of ability, you are more than welcome to stay and keep climbing. In fact we positively encourage it as it will help ingrain what we’ve just taught you and boost your confidence.

Includes lifetime membership and free equipment hire for your first month. Climb 4 times during your first month for a free gift!

NB. These rope skills are for the top rope (green) walls only. For lead climbing (purple wall) you will need to complete the 3 week Learn to Lead course in addition to this one

The aim is to brush up on your skills and/or meet other climbers to partner up with for future climbing sessions.

Although the session is free your usual entry fee applies.

NB. If our instructor feels your belay skills are insufficient which could place yourself and other climbers in danger whilst attending this session, it may be recommended that you book a rope safety course.

Parents

Learn how to belay for your kids

Climbing is a great sport for parents and children to enjoy together.

Being able to belay is an essential skill all climbers must learn to keep the climber safe. If you as a parent learn how to belay then you can bring the kids climbing whenever you want, without the need to book them onto a Fun Club or private session.

Our fun clubs are also limited to a minimum age of 5, but if you’re belaying your child yourself then there is no minimum age restriction.

Even if you don’t fancy climbing yourself you can still hold the ropes (belay) for your kids and encourage them up the wall.

In fact, if you’re just belaying your child and not climbing yourself, we won’t charge you entry.

If your kids are on one of our Climbing Clubs (NICAS) then it’s also a great way for them to get in some extra practice with you between the weekly sessions.

Rope Safety Course

£30001 hr 30 mins

Introduction to rope safety/belaying

Experience: None / A little / Boulderer

Fitness: Any

Confidence: Low / Medium / High

This course will cover:

The skills needed to climb the walls where ropes are required for your safety.

Correctly fitting a harness, tying into the rope and controlling the safety rope (belaying) for the climber.

Also includes the use of the auto belays.

Once you have completed the course and our instructor is happy with your level of ability, you are more than welcome to stay and keep climbing. In fact we positively encourage it as it will help ingrain what we’ve just taught you and boost your confidence.

Includes lifetime membership and free equipment hire for your first month. Climb 4 times during your first month for a free gift!

NB. These rope skills are for the top rope (green) walls only. For lead climbing (purple wall) you will need to complete the 3 week Learn to Lead course in addition to this one

Parents

Learn how to belay for your kids

Climbing is a great sport for parents and children to enjoy together.

Being able to belay is an essential skill all climbers must learn to keep the climber safe. If you as a parent learn how to belay then you can bring the kids climbing whenever you want, without the need to book them onto a Fun Club or private session.

Our fun clubs are also limited to a minimum age of 5, but if you’re belaying your child yourself then there is no minimum age restriction.

Even if you don’t fancy climbing yourself you can still hold the ropes (belay) for your kids and encourage them up the wall.

In fact, if you’re just belaying your child and not climbing yourself, we won’t charge you entry.

If your kids are on one of our Climbing Clubs (NICAS) then it’s also a great way for them to get in some extra practice with you between the weekly sessions.

Rope Safety Course

£30001 hr 30 mins

Introduction to rope safety/belaying

Experience: None / A little / Boulderer

Fitness: Any

Confidence: Low / Medium / High

This course will cover:

The skills needed to climb the walls where ropes are required for your safety.

Correctly fitting a harness, tying into the rope and controlling the safety rope (belaying) for the climber.

Also includes the use of the auto belays.

Once you have completed the course and our instructor is happy with your level of ability, you are more than welcome to stay and keep climbing. In fact we positively encourage it as it will help ingrain what we’ve just taught you and boost your confidence.

Includes lifetime membership and free equipment hire for your first month. Climb 4 times during your first month for a free gift!

NB. These rope skills are for the top rope (green) walls only. For lead climbing (purple wall) you will need to complete the 3 week Learn to Lead course in addition to this one

FAQ

All children aged 16 and under need to be supervised by an adult when at The Boardroom.

If you are an experienced climber then they can be supervised by yourself. If not then they will need to be supervised by one of our instructors.

It’s just not safe to let your children play on the wall without correct supervision as climbing can be a dangerous sport.

There are a few options available to you to get your kids climbing:

Book them onto a “Fun Session”. This is an hour long under the supervision and guidance of one of our fantastic instructors. This Fun Session is a great way to try the sport out and see if they enjoy it. Book yourself on too if you’d like to join in!

On weekend mornings (and in the afternoons on week days during school holidays) we run our Fun Clubs, “Caterpillars” for 5-7 yrs and “Funky Gibbons” for 7+.

If you’re sure your child will love climbing, or if they’ve tried climbing, enjoy it and want to progress in the sport then why not enrol them onto our Beginners Climbing Club, the first level of our Climbing Clubs.

These courses run in 6 week blocks during term time and are a great way to learn climbing or bouldering.

Our Climbing Clubs deliver the NICAS (National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme) or NIBAS (National Indoor Bouldering Award Scheme), for which we are one of the countries primary centres. These awards also counts towards GCSE and D of E!

As a parent if you do either our “Bouldering Safety & Techniques” or “Introduction to Rope Safety” course then you will be able to bring your child climbing by yourself.

With the safety knowledge and skills learnt you will not require one of our instructors to instruct your child. It also gets you involved in your child’s sport, and you never know you might enjoy climbing yourself!

Although you can start bouldering on you’re own with no supervision (see the “Just Boulder” offering on our Getting Started page) we highly recommend booking yourself onto our “Bouldering Safety & Techniques” course.

This course will cover all you need to know to get you bouldering safely as well as teaching you how to use the auto belays and a psicobloc induction if you’re up for it. We’ll also pass on some handy climbing techniques and top tips.

Bouldering is also a great way to meet other climbers to climb with.

To help improve your technique we run free coaching classes on the bouldering wall every Thursday evening (mixed) and Monday evenings (women only).

The Psicobloc (pronounced; see-koh-block) at The Boardroom is just a very high boulder, 8 meters high to be precise and very steep/overhanging with extra deep matting below it to take your fall!

The word Psicobloc is Spanish and its direct translation is “crazy boulder”. It’s also another name for DWS (Deep Water Soloing) which involves climbing rock faces above water, usually sea cliffs, free solo without a harnesses or ropes and using the water to break your fall!

We thought it was a pretty apt name for our solo wall as it is a pretty crazy boulder. So far it’s the only indoor one in Europe and only a handful in the world!

An auto belay is an automatic belay device that eliminates the need for a human belayer. The auto belay is attached to the top of the wall taking up the slack as a climber ascends and controls the descent when the climber reaches the top or in the event of a fall.

Top roping is without doubt the safest and easiest to learn of the two methods used in indoor climbing where a rope is required for safety (the other being “lead climbing”).

While top roping indoors (here at The Boardroom the top rope walls are the green wall) the rope which is always in place, runs smoothly through an anchor* at the top of the wall, with both ends of the rope reaching down to the floor. The climber ties into one end and the belayer attaches to the other.

As the climber ascends the wall the belayer takes in the rope ensuring there is no slack rope between themselves, the anchor and the climber. Should the climber fall off, the belayer prevents the climber from dropping by locking the rope in the belay device.

Because the rope passes through the anchor at the top of the wall, the climber is supported by the rope from above, despite the belayer being on the ground. This is why it is called “top roping”; the rope is always at the top, above the climber. This ensures that any fall a climber takes results in them falling no distance at all.

* In indoor climbing the anchor at the top of the wall consists of two karabiners attached to the wall structure via steel chains and bolts. The rope runs through the karabiners.

Indoor climbing wall anchors are weight tested on site to ensure they can hold 800kg

Before the climber starts climbing they must attach the rope to their harness. This is often referred to as “tying in”. In most indoor climbing centres this must be done using the popular and well recognised climbing knot, the figure of eight.

Despite it being a fairly easy knot to learn and get right, as with belaying it is paramount this is done correctly and attached the correct part of the harness. The consequences of getting this wrong could lead to serious injury or even death.

This is one of three skills (correctly putting on a harness, belaying and tying in) we teach on our “Introduction to Rope Safety/Belaying” course. Most people can master these skills during this course. If not then we will offer extra tuition free of charge until they are able to.

Belaying is the climbing term for controlling the (safety) rope whilst the climber climbs.

Climbers will more often than not, take it turns as a pair. One of them climbing whilst the other belays. Then they swap. So belaying is an essential skill all climbers must learn, and learn correctly.

When belaying the rope passes through a belay device and this device is clipped into the belayers harness. Correct use of the belay device is essential and of utmost importance as the climbers life rests in the belayers hands should they fall!

Having said that, it is a fairly basic skill and one of three (correctly putting on a harness, belaying and tying in) we teach on our “Introduction to Rope Safety/Belaying” course. Most people can master these skills during this course. If not then we will offer extra tuition free of charge until they can.

Indoor climbing is a form of rock climbing carried out indoors on artificial structures which attempt to mimic the experience of climbing outside.

Originally used by climbers as a way to train for climbing during the wet winter months, indoor climbing has now become a sport in its own right with many new climbers using it as a sociable and enjoyable alternative to working out in the gym!

I am completely new to climbing, I really mean that!

I am not a fit person and I don’t have a lot of self confidence. I often get intimidated by places like this.

This place however has never made me think negatively about myself, the staff are incredible! There is one young lady with the most infectious smile, positive attitude and welcoming spirit. She complimented me on my improvement and actually made me feel awesome. She is a credit to your company.

I can honestly say that I love coming here and am always planning my next visit. I have visited other walls but let’s just say they are less awesome. The boardrooms is clean, modern, energetic and a genuine happy atmosphere.